Co-op games are some of the more overlooked game modes in the gaming industry due to the focus on single-player and online multiplayer games. However, some developers look at this and say, “We can do some shenanigans with this,” leading to games like It Takes Two appearing.
However, It Takes Two isn’t the only co-op game you should be paying attention to. Here are 15 games that have co-op like It Takes Two. But first, let’s talk about It Takes Two, shall we?
What Is ‘It Takes Two’?
It Takes Two is a co-op action-adventure platformer created by Hazelight Studios and released by EA. The game focuses on a family of 3, with the father and mother on the verge of divorce and the daughter trying to find a way to bring them back together. She achieves this by using a spell to turn her parents into dolls and using a book as their magical marriage counselor. Yes, that’s a thing, and yes, this is the game’s premise.
Overall, the game is well-beloved by a lot of gamers due to its unique gameplay mechanics for each stage and the co-op focus. The two players playing the parents need to work together to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and in general, actually try to fix their relationship to save their marriage and family. It’s a cool story that has a lot of nice set pieces throughout the game.
Play It Takes Two on your PS4 today!
15 Games Like It Takes Two to Play At Home
Without further ado, here are games like It Takes Two that can elevate your co-op gaming experience!
1. Astral Ascent
Astral Ascent is probably the newest game in this article. It’s not even complete yet. But its gameplay is completely breathtaking. The player takes control of one of four characters trapped in the Garden. Each character has their motives for escape, but to do that, they’ll need to face the Zodiacs, 12 powerful demigods that guard the Garden and keep the prisoners there.
In terms of combat, Astral Ascent has a pretty interesting way on how they do spells. Players have MP bars that they can then spend to use certain spells. They can take 4 spells with them, and throughout a run, they can swap spells and improve them by adding Gambits to them. Players need to use all 4 spells before the cycle resets, so keeping a close eye on what spell comes next is a good way to play the game.
Some spells don’t consume mana but have a long cooldown. These aren’t that powerful, but they can be used to help the players defeat enemies and have a variety of effects. Auras can also be equipped to improve certain spells and add new effects to player damage, damage mitigation, et cetera. All in all, the combat on Astral Ascent is pretty well made, and very cool, and with 5 different characters to choose from (as of right now, only 2 are available on early access), players will have loads of build variety and playstyles.
As stated, Astral Ascent is still on early access and we still don’t have a lot of information about the game’s lore. But what we do have is a beautiful roguelike co-op 2D platformer.
2. Gears of War Franchise
As per usual, the Gears of War franchise is one of the best games to play on couch co-op for a long time now. The game has a split-screen co-op, so players can share the same TV to do the same missions. Yes, it cuts on the screen, but it’s there, and it’s been the game’s main co-op feature for a long time. Gameplay-wise, it’s still bloody, action-packed, and heavily focused on third-person cover shooting. The Gears games also have balance tweaks to weaponry and enemies mean over the years that the series has been out as well. Thus, it’s pretty balanced, though Gnasher BS is a thing.
All in all, the Gears of War franchise is a good game to play co-op with a friend. If you can bear the split screen that is. It helps that all of the Gears games are pretty good, with Gears 5 being a bit of a contentious topic but other than that, it’s all good.
3. Minecraft
Next on the list is Minecraft, who’s here on the merit of being one of the best games to ever come out. Its simplicity belies how complex it is under the hood with the various things the players can do with the game’s world. Creative players can do whatever they want on Minecraft Creative, from making intricate puzzles, platformers, and custom game modes.
For those that don’t have any of that creativity but want to explore what the game has to offer, there’s Survival Mode. In this mode, players can go on a full-stop survival experience. They need to get resources to survive, create food, and try to explore the world that they’re in. Its also randomly generated with over 18 quintillion Minecraft seeds available, meaning each Minecraft Seed is a unique experience.
Players can then make these worlds into multiplayer servers that can hold 30 people maximum. However, it can be increased if the Server admin wants to. 2b2t is a really good example of this with a carrying capacity of 300 players at one point in time. However, 30 people in a single Minecraft server is usually enough for some people.
All in all, Minecraft deserves its place as one of the most-played games in the world today. It’s a lot of fun, and pretty customizable with mods. A lot of mods are made for Minecraft that completely change how it’s played. From revamping the combat to adding new monsters, items, and biomes. It’s pretty good.
4. Castle Crashers
Those who want a more action-packed side-scrolling fare might want to try out Castle Crashers. Castle Crashers is a 4 player co-op side-scrolling hack-n-slash indie game created by The Behemoth. For those not in the know, Castle Crashers is a pretty old game, with it being released way back in 2008. The game’s premise is pretty simple: The kingdom is beset by monsters sent by an evil wizard. Said evil wizard also absconded with a gem of mystical power and kidnapped 4 princesses to boot, how evil.
Anyhow, the King sends 4 knights to retrieve the gem as well as save the 4 captured princesses. Along the way, they’ll fight some pretty fearsome enemies, and eventually, they’ll face the evil wizard himself to dispense justice.
Overall, the game is a simple affair. If the player’s played a side-scroller, then they have a pretty good idea of what to do for how to play. Controls are intuitive and can be done on both keyboard and controller. Lastly, as stated, the game has 4-player multiplayer, though just keep in mind that it has some problems in a few cases with disconnects. Other than that though, a cool multiplayer game.
5. Borderlands Series
If you and your friends are the kinds of people that want to shoot their way out of problems while getting good loot, try the Borderlands series out. The game is an action First-Person Shooter RPG set a few hundred years into the future when Mankind makes its way to space. Specifically, on the planet Pandora. Here, a lot of people, mega-corporations mostly, go to the planet to exploit its reportedly enormous mineral resources. What they find there was a near-barren wasteland that has little to no resources for them to exploit.
The mega-corporations then left, leaving their workforce behind, who devolve into banditry to survive Pandora’s dangerous wildlife. However, various alien artifacts were found, which led to vaults that reportedly led to treasures hitherto unknown to mortal ken. These are, specifically, Pandora’s Eridian vaults filled with artifacts of incredible power. Thus, the mega-corporations went back to Pandora, and with them, Vault Hunters.
The player controls one of the various Vault Hunters, each with their unique abilities that they can offer in a team. Players grow stronger by getting better gear, as well as unlocking special abilities from each character. With enough time and a lot of dead enemies, your characters can become unstoppable forces of destruction in Pandora. Overall, a really fun co-op romp that ramps up the more people playing. Up to 4 people can Co-Op on the Borderlands games, and the more people, the more chaotic, the more fun.
Enjoy Borderlands 3 on your PS5
6. A Way Out
Next on the list is A Way Out, an obvious choice due to it being made by the same developers. A Way Out focuses on 2 escaped convicts. The first is Vincent Moretti, and the other is Leonard “Leo” Caruso. Vincent was just incarcerated in the prison, while Leo was already there for 6 months. Leo was already planning to escape, but Vincent finds out and offers his help. Together, the two start to go on a journey to get revenge on the crime boss that sent them to prison in the first place.
A Way Out is unique like It Takes Two because both games can’t be played single-player. Players can play the game on Couch Co-Op, or online multiplayer. The game makes the player take control of the two characters, each with their unique skills, and it’s up to them to ensure that they survive. You can think of A Way Out as a kind of prototype to It Takes Two, in a sense.
Overall, if you’re looking for a really good Co-Op game to play with a friend, try A Way Out. Its story is great, and there’s a twist in the end that’ll pull the heartstrings.
7. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Next on the list is LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Sage, although, this could also be said for any LEGO game in general. This is because the games typically come with Co-Op options, as a second player can jump in the middle of a game and do some shenanigans with player 1.
However, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is the latest and one of the most popular LEGO games on the market. This is why it gets to be on this list. It allows players to use various Prequel Trilogy characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Master Yoda, and more. Also, there are some pretty hilarious gags as well, like Anakin’s lightsaber turning red while he shakes it to return to its normal color.
Overall, this game deserves to be on this list, and it’s great to see people looking at the prequel trilogy again.
8. Super Mario 3D World
Super Mario 3D World is another entry on the Co-Op list because up to 4 players can play the game. Players can choose between Mario, Luigi. Blue Toad, and Princess Peach. All 4 have similar movesets and can make use of the same powerups. There’s even a powerup where they turn into cats, that was a doozy.
Anyhow, Super Mario 3D World is a boatload of fun and can lead to a lot of chaotic moments, especially when played with 4 players. The sheer amount of screen shenanigans that can happen due to the number of players is enough of a reason to get Super Mario 3D World. Combine that with an interesting gameplay system due to the 3D space and you have a good game to get for the Nintendo Switch.
9. Cuphead
Next is Cuphead, which puts the players in the shoes of the titular character who’s now in the middle of a really bad pickle. For one, he and his pal, Mugman, just crossed the Devil, and are in a pretty hefty debt. They need to defeat and take the souls of other debtors that the Devil has, or else the Devil will take their heads.
This game can be played on Single-player, but the real fun starts when a second player is in the game. When that happens, Mugman will help Cuphead in defeating the various bosses in the game. This also allows players to revive each other. However, only for a limited time. The moment, they rise to the top edge of the screen they can’t be revived anymore.
Overall, Cuphead is a really good run & gun shooter with a punishing difficulty curve. However, with a good friend and a lot of gumption, the player can go through the game with some difficulty. It’s really fun though, once the player masters it.
10. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
For those that want to go for another tearjerker game, then they might want to go for Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. The game puts the player in the shoes of two brothers who ascend a mountain to get the healing waters from a spring for their sick father.
The game can be played in Single-Player with one controller controlling both brothers. However, co-op is also a possibility with another player controlling one of the brothers. It’s a pretty short game, 2 hours at most is enough to finish it. However, 2 hours is already enough to bring some serious tears, especially during the end. Overall, if you have the time to do so, play Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons with a friend. You and your friend won’t regret it.
11. Terraria
Next on the list is Terraria, which is a sort of more relaxing side-scrolling 2D platformer Minecraft. Don’t get us wrong though, it’s not as relaxing as we make it sound. The base game alone is pretty harrowing for those that aren’t used to the sheer amount of monsters the game throws at the player if they’re not prepared. Hell, the first night of Terraria is usually the make-or-break night due to the slimes and the floating eyeballs trying to take your life.
All in all, it’s pure chaos. Combine this with playing with friends on the same server, and you’ll have a party and a half. Overall, Terraria is for those that want the same experience that Minecraft gives but on a 2D plane. The fact that it delivers is a pretty good bonus.
12. Portal 2
To be honest, Portal 2 shouldn’t be here. The game is a primarily single-player experience with Chell, the main protagonist exploring the ruins of Aperture labs. However, Portal 2 also has a Co-Op mode campaign where 2 players take control of ATLAS and P-Body. Meanwhile, the series’ snarky, passive-aggressive AI GLaDOS leads them around Aperture Labs, in which shenanigans ensue.
The Co-Op campaign is set after the events of Portal 2’s single-player campaign, and as you can tell, has a different vibe to it. It’s a lot of fun to do some whacky stuff alongside your Co-Op partner.
Overall, the Co-Op campaign is a great addition to Portal 2 and provides a lot of good co-op gameplay. Get Portal 2, for the story, the gameplay, and the hilarious shenanigans on Co-Op.
13. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Next is Divinity: Original Sin 2, which is Dungeons and Dragons in a PC setting. Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the follow-up of the first Divinity: Original Sin and is just as deep as the original game. For those that want to go through the story linearly, best take the first Divinity: Original Sin first. Then go for the second game, the story will make sense then.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 can be played in both single-player, and up to 4-player co-op mode. Gameplay-wise, the game functions just like a standard Dungeons and Dragons tabletop RPG. Each character has abilities that can be used to defeat their opponents. Some abilities can be completely and utterly broken, as shown by a certain YouTuber who used a heavy chest and levitation to destroy the setting. Overall, there’s a lot of whacky stuff players can do on Divinity: Original Sin 2 if they’re creative enough. And this alone is a ringing recommendation to try and purchase the game.
Get Divinity: Original Sin 2 today!
14. Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Next on the list is Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which earned its place due to sheer cute. The game takes place in New World after Kirby and most of Planet Pop Star was sucked up a dark vortex. Kirby then needs to find his Waddle Dee friends, as well as King Dedede before anything bad happens to them. Along the way, Kirby meets a new friend, finds various powerups to help him in his quest, and fights a few of the unwary natives.
For those that want to play Co-Op on Kirby the Forgotten Land, never fear. Because you can! However, the second player has to play as Bandana Waddle Dee, and his abilities are lesser when compared to the pink ball of destruction that is Kirby. However, Bandana Waddle Dee is a pretty capable character, and his interactions with Kirby are very adorable. When playing Co-Op on Kirby and the Forgotten Land, it’s usually a good idea to decide between the two people playing who would play which character. Mostly because one will be getting the short end of the stick due to playing Bandanna Waddle Dee.
Still, Kirby and the Forgotten Land can have some pretty cool couch co-op moments due to the game being playable on Nintendo Switch. It’s kind of like Super Mario 3D World in terms of gameplay actually, and for those that like that kind of game? This entry in the Kirby series is pretty sweet.
Join Kirby in his adventure today!
15. Super Mario Party
Last but not least is Super Mario Party, which makes the second game from the Mario franchise to make it on this list. This is for a good reason, however, as Super Mario Party is, as you can probably guess, a party game. Up to 4 players can participate in couch co-op, either on 1 device or on 2 different devices. Either way, be prepared for a chaotic time as Super Mario Party can and will test the patience of you and your friends.
Super Mario Party is set in a board game format where players compete in various minigames. The minigames in Super Mario Party are really fun and have unique gimmicks that players need to figure out to win. The ones that succeed in the minigames are awarded stars that contribute to their final score. The more stars a player has, the better their chances of winning. There are also various hazards in the board game that can stymie players in their path to getting more stars. In addition to various player-made hazards that can be activated by spending currency.
Overall, if you’re looking for a party game to play with friends, try out Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch. You may want to buy 2 extra Switch controllers to get 4 player co-op though.
Why Should You Play Games Like It Takes Two?
Playing co-op games is an endeavor that cannot be done alone. Yes, there are some games on this list that can be played single-player. But having a partner in these games can sometimes be more fun than just being alone. Take Minecraft for example, having a few friends on a Minecraft server can lead to some fun shenanigans and outcomes. Just look at the various Minecraft SMPs from various YouTubers, Minecraft has a lot of stuff in it, yes. But it’s the players themselves that add more spice to the game, adding in their quirks and nuances.
In short, play Co-Op games because it allows you to interact with others. If a game has co-op, it might be a good idea to play with a friend or two.
Try Out Games Like It Takes Two Today!
All in all, a lot of the games in this list provide unique gameplay. For those that want to play with a few friends, these games can provide unique gameplay experiences for them to enjoy.
